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AMA Grand National Cross Country Series Round 12: High Point Raceway rider from Ohio held a one-minute lead for most of the three-hour race. His only major challenge was Suzuki/ AXO/M2R/Pro Circuit/Dunlop pilot Jimmy Jarrett, who held pace with Andrews until tweaking his foot and dropping out of the race. With Jarrett and his Suzuki parked, series points leader Rodney Smith came from deep in the pack to nail second, with fellow Suzuki rider Steve Hatch joining him on the podium. Close behind them was a strong challenge from the Yamaha duo of Barry Hawk Jr. and Jason Raines, who rounded out the top five. Smith's second place was hardearned. After a crash-marred first lap that took him out of the top 10, he spent the next three hours creeping back onto the leaderboard. "It took me about two or three laps to really get going and get in a rhythm" said the SuzukijFMF/Moose Racing/HJC/ Dunlop-backed Smith. "I just kept plugging away, riding strong and hard." Defending series champion Shane Watts had another off day at High Point, carding a sixth place after By JASON WEIGANDT PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN MOONT MORRIS, PA, SEPT. 23 fter terrible luck at the beginning &lJ, of the 2001 AMA Grand National Cross Country Series, Team Green Kawasaki's Fred Andrews seems to have a rabbit's foot at his side in the latter half of the season. After winning the previous series round at The John Penton GNCC in Ohio, the Team Green/Cornwell Tools/Pro Circuit rider romped to another win at round 12 at High Point Raceway. "I really want to thank these fans," said the Moose racing/Dunlop/Scott/ Shoei-backed Andrews from the winner's circle. "You can hear them cheering all the way around the track. It really helps you keep going." The only thing that didn't keep Andrews going was a lack of gas, as his tank ran dry at the conclusion of the third lap. Luckily, he was just 50 feet from the pits when it happened, and he managed to push his bike in for a refill. "I came in for gas and the bike started running out, so I put the choke on and it started bogging. I managed to push my bike through the tunnel. Those few seconds felt like it took a whole day!" The empty tank would present Andrew's biggest challenge, as the f\ 44 OCTOBER 10.2001 ' cue (Above) Jim Jarrett (7) pulled the holeshot but would later pull out of the race after smashing his foot on a tree stump. (Right) Fred Andrews Is not giving up without a fight. Despite being well down on points to series leader Rodney Smith, Andrews has won three of the last four rounds. starting at the tail of the top 10. "I don't know what to say," said the likable Australian after the race. "I really tried. I gave it everything I had, and I felt pretty good. I felt just as good as I do when I win, only, I didn't win." Two other KTM riders, Mike Lafferty and Brian Garrahan, finished seventh and eighth, with Suzuki's Mike Kiedrowski and Honda pilot Josh McLevy rounding out the top 10. With just two rounds remaining in the series and a big points deficit to overcome, Andrews came to High Point needing to make up points in bunches. For a while, it looked like he would, as he pulled away out front and Smith struggled at the back of the top 10. But Smith would eventually work his way into second and maintain most of his sizeable points lead. Simply finishing races will be the key for Smith now, as a top-five finish at the next round will seal up his third title. One rider who many expected to throw a wrench into the champi· onship standings was KTM factory motocross and supercross racer Brock Sellards. The surprise entrant, who recently wrapped up fifth place in the AMA/Chevy Trucks 125cc Motocross Nationals, was riding his first-ever GNCC as an introduction to the KTM 200 he plans on'racing at the U.S. Open race in Las Vegas. "My goal is just to get a good start and stay with these guys, just to see what it's all about," said Sellards before the race. "I'd really like to stay with them and just tough it out. Posi· tionwise, I'd be really, really happy with a top five." Unfortunately for Sellards, he broke a bead on the sprocket side of his rear tire while running third. By the third lap, the mouse foam tube insert came out of the tire. Sellards decided to call it quits after that. The High Point course was put together by Racer Productions' trail boss Jeff Russell, a former KTM factory rider. The track utilized the entire High Point National motocross track, and then used a few field sections to link the track with tight woods trails. The Pro riders took seven laps around the II-mile track, with average lap times in the 24-minute range. High Point is always one of the most popular stops on the GNCC circuit, and this year didn't disappoint. After 358 ATVs and 68 youth riders raced on Saturday, 468 bikes hit the track on Sunday. When the flag flew at the start of the race, Jarrett got a great jump when he kicked his Suzuki to life before anyone else. Andrews tried to jump in front through the first-turn sweeper, but Jarrett and Smith swept back underneath him to lead the pack around the High Point motocross track. Sellards, making